Calibrachoa Plant Named &#39;BBCAL76001&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL76001’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; purple-colored petals with a darker purple-colored central band encircling the yellow-colored throat; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL76001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBCAL76001’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 25, 2014 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealmidpu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,717, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CB142-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 9, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL76001’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBCAL76001’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Purple-colored petals with a darker purple-colored central         band encircling the yellow-colored throat.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Duealmidpu’, in plant habit as plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of ‘Duealmidpu’. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more tolerant to pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants than plants of ‘Duealmidpu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as trailing as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI99’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,679. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI99’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘USCALI99’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCALI99’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa resist fading better         than flowers of plants of ‘USCALI99’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘USCALI11’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCALI11’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘USCALI11’ have light red purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL76001’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL76001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL76001’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealmidpu’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,717.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CB142-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five             weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six             weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely             branching habit with about five primary lateral branches             each with about two secondary branches; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 8.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 10             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 21 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5 mm to 8 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Rounded to broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute             pubescence; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Mostly smooth with scattered pubescence;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 130 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Minute             pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N200D tinted with close             to N77D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm by 2.9 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:             Minute pubescence especially along the veins; matte. Throat             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube             texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Petal             lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to N79B to N79C.             Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to N77D.             Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 77A; band surrounding the throat, close to N79A;             venation, close to N79A; color does not change with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 79D; venation, close to 79A; color does not fade with             development. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, close to 152B.             Tube: Close to 145C; venation, close to 152C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Sepal             length: About 9 mm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate to narrowly elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Sepal color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 20° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color:             Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four per flower.             Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther             color: Close to 8C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 8A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:             Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146B. Ovary color: Close to             144A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL76001’ as illustrated and described. 